D-9 Trade Management Visa Korea — Traders, Sole Proprietors & Dispatched Technicians

D-9 is appropriate for three categories:

1. Traders: Carrying on trade in Korea as a trader who holds a trade business code (무역업 고유번호) issued by the Korea International Trade Association

2. Dispatched technical staff: Installing, operating or maintaining imported industrial equipment, or supervising shipbuilding and industrial plant construction on behalf of the ordering company. (Staff posted to a Korean branch office (지사) or liaison office (연락사무소) of a foreign company are covered by D-7, which normally requires at least 1 year with the foreign company; such postings are not on the D-9 list.)

3. Foreign individual sole proprietors (외국인 개인사업자) Since 29 October 2012, D-9 has covered foreign nationals who run their own business in Korea as sole proprietors (개인사업자) — not as an employee of a foreign company, but as an independent operator.

Requirements for the sole proprietor track: • Bring in KRW 300 million or more of foreign capital (or hold a foreign-invested enterprise registration with capital of KRW 300 million or more). A KRW 100 million route exists for D-2 or D-10 holders with a Korean master's degree or higher, and for Korean bachelor's graduates who have earned 30 or more credits in OASIS-1 to 8 • Register a sole proprietorship with the Korean tax authority (사업자등록) • Demonstrate a viable trade or commercial business plan • The business must be genuinely trade-oriented — not service employment

This closes a gap where foreign individual traders and small-scale import/export operators had no clear visa pathway between the corporate D-8/D-9 tracks and the employment E-series.

D-9 is NOT for: • Running a fully incorporated Korean company (D-8 territory) • Employment at a Korean company in a management role (E-7 or D-7 territory) • Pure sales activities without management responsibility

Branch office (지사): Can conduct commercial transactions; its establishment is reported to a designated foreign exchange bank (or, for certain financial businesses, to the finance ministry), not to KOTRA Liaison office (연락사무소): Cannot conduct revenue transactions; for market research and relationship management only

Staff sent from the foreign head office to either kind of office are covered by D-7, which normally requires at least 1 year with the foreign company; such postings are not on the D-9 list.

Key documents: • Foreign company's business registration certificate (apostilled) • Letter of appointment confirming management authority • Branch/liaison office registration certificate (if applicable) • Evidence of trade activities: contracts, purchase orders, business plan • Financial statements or proof of business viability

Duration: 1 year, renewable annually.

Sending an employee from overseas to a Korean subsidiary, branch or liaison office: D-7. Investing in a Korean corporation: D-8. Trading or running your own business in Korea as a registered trader or sole proprietor: D-9.